cloud7
Well-Known Member
Looking at a Ben 45 ( 2015 ) 700 hours inmast , any opinions knowledge much appreciated .
Beneteau 45 oceanis
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Bobc
Well-Known Member
Sounds nice.
Skylark
Well-Known Member
I have its baby brother, the 41. Mine is 2013 and I bought it new. Without fear of contradiction, it’s the finest boat on the water!
Due to, probably unfounded, prejudice mine is slab reef. I have to climb on the arch to put the aft half of the main away, it doesn’t get any easier with advancing years so the furling main starts to look attractive.
I have a pal who owned a 38 ft Dufour. After spending time on my 41 he sold it and bought the Oceanis 45.
Due to, probably unfounded, prejudice mine is slab reef. I have to climb on the arch to put the aft half of the main away, it doesn’t get any easier with advancing years so the furling main starts to look attractive.
I have a pal who owned a 38 ft Dufour. After spending time on my 41 he sold it and bought the Oceanis 45.
colind3782
Well-Known Member
Given an appropriate budget, I'd buy one.
cloud7
Well-Known Member
Any experience of the 45?
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Looking at buying a 45' AWB myself and have to say the current Oceanis is far too loftesque for my taste.
The more I look at the modern offerings from Ben/Jen/Bav , the more inclined I am to go used and splurge a hunk of cash on upgrades. The Jeanneau SO45 is my current preference.
The more I look at the modern offerings from Ben/Jen/Bav , the more inclined I am to go used and splurge a hunk of cash on upgrades. The Jeanneau SO45 is my current preference.
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cloud7
Well-Known Member
Appreciate if you have time to develope your opinion of the 45 Ben , as if have a Jeanneau ( 2011) at present
Skylark
Well-Known Member
Other than being aboard one, not really. What specific info / opinion are you looking for?
The 41 and 45 are very similar. Mine is 3 cabin, 2 heads. She’s the deep keel version. I ticked most of the options so I have bow thruster, chain counter, teak deck, microwave, tv/dvd and other such cruising essentials.
My only warranty issues were electrical. I had the domestic battery bank replaced together with most of the Simrad equipment.
My Yanmar has done about 250 hours. I’m not a fan of saildrives due to, in my opinion, poorly engineered maintenance requirements, having to virtually remove the engine to replace the hull seals. I fitted a flex o fold 3 blade.
I don’t live aboard and didn’t buy her for crossing the southern ocean. The chined hull seems slippery but stable. She’s quick off the wind. Gentlemen don’t go up wind (only aeroplanes). Close quarters manoeuvreing under power is very predictable and vice free, with or without the bow thruster. Cockpit space is huge, electric transom is a great feature. I have a Bimini / full cockpit tent and this makes for comfortable cruising.
My only issue, as I already stated, is that it’s hard to put a slab reef main away.
cloud7
Well-Known Member
The 45 I just viewed is shallow keel , never had or sailed in a short keel any opinions ?
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Depends on where you are going to sail and how much you value the ability to go to windward, particularly in stronger winds.
In general the stability is much the same in either option as the shallow keel will likely have a bit more ballast and located in a bulb at the bottom. The loss is in the efficiency of the keel as a hydrofoil as the deeper and shorter chord will help going to wind and probably enable more sail to be carried in heavier winds.
Whether this makes a huge amount of difference to general cruising is a subject of much debate. Those coming from a racing perspective will talk about the extra couple of degrees you can get to wind and then a small reduction in leeway which might for example enable you to clear a headland without a tack. On the other hand those coming up from less weatherly boats will revel in the general performance of either and may see windward work something to be avoided anyway!
The difference in draft may well make a difference to some harbours and marinas you want to access, but the shallow draft is not something that suddenly opens up whole new areas to sail as for example it would if you bought something like an Allures or Southerly of the same size with a draft of 1m board up.
Both my Bavarias have been shallow draft, the first to fit the French canals and the current one to expand the area I can sail safely in around Poole harbour. The first one did suffer as the keel was really shallow at 1.4m compared with 2m whereas the current is 1.5m compared with 1.9m and a much better shape.
cloud7
Well-Known Member
Thank you very informative